What happens to miscarried babies in Islam?

What the hadith say

The Prophet ﷺ said that a miscarried child will drag his mother by his umbilical cord to Paradise, if she was patient and sought Allah's reward for her loss (Sunan Ibn Majah 1609). Scholars encourage taking comfort from this while remembering that the details of the Hereafter are known only to Allah.

A more famous hadith speaks about children who die young: "A Muslim whose three children die before the age of puberty will be granted Paradise by Allah due to his mercy for them" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1248). Scholars have drawn on reports like these to offer hope to parents who lost a baby in pregnancy. A baby carries no sins and is in Allah's mercy. See What happens to babies who die in Islam?

Does the stage of pregnancy matter?

Scholars give different rulings on funeral steps, such as naming, washing, shrouding and burial, depending on how far along the pregnancy was. These steps are about caring for the baby's body. They are not a measure of how much Allah cares for your child. A local imam or your mosque's funeral service can guide you gently. See Do I need ghusl after a miscarriage?

Grieving with faith

When his baby son Ibrahim was dying, the Prophet ﷺ wept and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1303). So crying is allowed. The Quran teaches the words to say when loss comes:

Doctors say most miscarriages happen for reasons no one could have prevented, so try not to blame yourself or anyone else. Many parents choose a name for the baby they lost, and if the sex was unknown, scholars often suggest a name that suits a boy or a girl. Sadness, exhaustion and even anger are normal. If the grief feels too heavy, speak to a doctor, a counsellor or an understanding friend. Asking for help is not a lack of trust in Allah. See How do I cope with a miscarriage as a Muslim?